Vieux Diop Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
From Mozambique to Nigeria to Ethiopia, many African pop artists use Western instruments exclusively. They're still embracing African rhythms, but they use western instruments to play them and exclude traditional African instruments like the kora (a string instrument with a harp-like sound), the mbira (one of Africa's various thumb pianos), and the kalimba. Vieux Diop, however, is among the African pop vocalists who favors a combination of African and Western instruments. On 2000's Afrika Wassa, the kora and other traditional African instruments interact with the drums, bass, and guitar. A native of Senegal who has lived in the U.S. since 1984, Diop is no stranger to multiculturalism -- on Afrika Wassa, he sings in Senegalese languages as well as English and French. His style of African pop isn't hyper and ultra-exuberant a la soukous, makossa, and zouk -- nor is it moody, smoky and jazz-influenced like a lot of Ethiopian and Sudanese pop. Rather, Diop goes for a gentle, relaxed, reflective approach and sometimes incorporates elements of American folk. Afrika Wassa isn't for dancing; it's best to sit down and listen to this charming, heartfelt CD. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Via Jo is the debut American album from Vieux Diop, a masterful kora player known previously as a player in Youssou N'Dour's band. Here, he performs pieces both instrumental, and pieces accompanied only by his own vocals. The works range from ancient traditional jali pieces to contemporary works on philosophy. At times, the semi-traditional kora is replaced for extended passages on the keyboards and guitars of his band. Not that his band is in any way inadequate, but the focus of the album is hazy from time to time, as the tone switches from semi-traditional to fully contemporary and back again in a moment. The album starts out with a few numbers from the 9th and 12th century jali repertoires, sung in Bambare, Wolof, and Mandingo. It then moves to a few newer numbers, displaying a greater range of abilities on the part of the band, as well as the guest artists (including new age guitarist Brian Keane). By the end of the album, the tone has been set to a higher tempo dance groove, with the lyrics more firmly set in Wolof, and the beat firmly set on a more urban level. Youssou N'Dour is one of the legends of African music, and here his sideman comes out on his own in full regalia. Pick it up for a nice look at what a kora player does in an urban recording setting. ~ Adam Greenberg Ö, All Music Guide
'Traditional Songs of West Africa'
Release Date 5/30/2000
Tracks 9
Label Alebrije
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This collection of West African music from world music artist Vieux Diop balances traditional material along with his beautiful originals. A love of American R&B singers is an element that permeates this collection of prayers for acceptance and respect for others, ensuring us that celebrating differences will bring us closer. Diop's accompanying band features kora, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric bass, saba and djembe drums and the xylophone-like balafon. Moving ahead, modernizing West African music with respect for ancient aspects is the fully realized purpose of this unifying project. ~ MusD, All Music Guide
